Pokémon Champions - releasing April 8, 2026

[Magcargo]

Pp changes + forced item Clause seem like really massive changes for singles. It's really hard to see how influential these will be. That said, I think the biggest winner from both is corv. Effective hazard immunity means that it can get away with running any random item like helmet or some resist berry. Additionally pp changes on moves like ivy cudgel and triple axel let it out stall them with Roost (6 pp on attack vs 8 pp on roost).

I think most sub legendaries will go crazy with the pp nerf as well with pressure.

 

[CynicalGiant]

It also nerfs megas who do gain an ability that impacts the field. Es, Mega Manectric which gains intimidate, the intimidate would go off before opponent switches, so the pokemon coming in would not be intimidated.

I guess this change also buffs mons that have a weather setting ability on both their regular form and their mega

abomasnow and ttar stocks to the moon

also wait, this is a buff to Ditto right? it can copy megas a lot easier now

We saw footage of Icy Wind and Dazzling Gleam hitting both opponents at once in the trailer, so I don't think that having to calc damage on each pokemon means anything.

the ultimate test for champions is to add Klawf and see if they figured out how to make Anger Shell not take like 2 minutes

edit:

apparently moves like Dragon Claw may be added to Sharpness? this still shows Dragon Claw listed as contact (touch) and "cut"

Dragon Claw, Shadow Claw, Metal Claw, Dire Claw, and Crush Claw being potentially added to Sharpness would be nice, and also be a way for them to give Sharpness to some mons that would like it (like Haxorus and Mega Garchomp)

could also mean that Mega Absol Z could get Sharpness?

 

[Pikachu315111]

(In response to @DrPumpkinz's disappointment with Dragonize's name)

as opposed to what? it´s not like they could call it dragonite

Dragon Up!

Mythologize

Eh, like Fairies and Ghosts are just as mythological as Dragons so doesn't get the point across it makes Normal-type Moves into Dragon-type.

For an actual serious suggestion, honestly I think they just need to change & add in a few more letters: "Drakonicize" (pronounced Dra-kon-ic-size).

FUN FACT: Japanese don't have to deal with this problem as all these Abilities are just "(TYPE) Skin". Normalize = Normal Skin, Aerilate = Sky Skin, Pixilate = Fairy Skin, Refrigerate = Freeze Skin, Galvanize = Electric Skin, and now Dragonize = Dragon Skin.

On bluesky Serebii noted that attack drops finally happen simultaneously

...but in his written review he noted that psychic terrain expanding force hit each target separately.

Which is odd because we saw from the trailer that things like Icy Wind or Dazzling Gleam still hit simultaneously

Sounds like an oversight with Expanding Force normally being a single target Move.

According to serebii's preview there are random shinies (he saw his friend get one) and marks/titles within the rentals, so there's some more gambling content for people to roll for.
(...)
I also noticed the pokeballs are random too with Great Balls on some mons and Friend Ball Kleavor sighted.

I'm a little disappointed in Dragonite not getting a different ability.

Wonder if it was because they decided Multiscale was already a very good Ability (that changing it would be a downgrade from a Multiscale Dragonite) or if M-Dragonite was so spoiled of potential choices they decided to stick with the default.

Smogon should open up the point store again but for betting on abilities for megas

I want to see who will bet it all on their favorite getting a new killer ability and then lose it when they get mold breaker again

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Shoves all points into pile!

Clefable: Magic Bounce
Victreebel: Merciless
Starmie: Adaptability
Skarmory: Tough Claws
Excadrill: Speed Boost
Scolipede: Anger Shell
Scrafty: Filter
Eelektross: Levitate
Chandelure: Berserk
Pyroar: Fur Coat
Eternal Floette: Fairy Aura
Malamar: Dazzling
Barbaracle: Skill Link
Dragalge: Corrosion
Hawlucha: Moxie
Zygarde: Neuroforce
Drampa: Regenerator
Falinks: Simple
Raichu X: "Surge Breaker" (Using an Electric-type Move with recoil increases Atk by 1 stage)
Riachu Y: "Surge Protector" (Using an Electric-type Move with recoil disables the targets Ability)
Chimecho: Levitate
Absol Z: Sniper
Staraptor: Gale Wings
Garchomp Z: No Guard
Lucario Z: Mega Launcher
Heatran: Solar Power
Darkrai: Dark Aura
Golurk: Aftermath
Meowstic: Psychic Surge
Crabominable: Ice Body
Golisopod: Weak Armor
Magearna: Soul-Heart
Zeraora: Transistor
Scovillain: Moody
Glimmora: Poison Point
Tatsugiri: Prankster
Baxcalibur: Intrepid Sword

Also I like how Serebii's example of "the level of detail on the move information" being the strongest it has been is a picture of Shadow Sneak with a -- dashed out description because there is no flavour text in this game.

Joking aside, to me them completely removing flavor text to just have pure mechanical descriptions is disappointing. Like, yeah, it's now nice you know how the Move works mechanically, but is it asking too much for them to have included like a separate tab which included flavor text? Like have the flavor text tab be "Description" and have all the mechanical info in a "Effect" tab. This has been an ever increasing issue with Items' descriptions (exacerbated by the Materials which all shared the same boring "can be used in TM melding" description; not to mention Berries having "Tag" descriptions which come and go depending on if they can find room for it in the game someplace). This also goes for Abilities, which have been better with keeping some flavor text though, like with Items and Moves, would probably benefit more having the Description & Effect separate.

"We're holding off on including Pokemon that still need to evolve so our player-base can more easily understand Ariados."

You don't need to do that, ya just gotta speak with our boi Guzma and he'll set ya out straight.

"Ya see, ya gotta be sneaky. First Golisopod does First Impressions, then at half HP uses Emergency Exit, then Ariados comes out and sets up Spider Webs and Toxic Threads, than Golisopod comes out for Round 2 and BADA-BOOM! It now outspeeds and sweeps. Now that'll be a Buginium Z and a bus stop sign, don't tell me where ya got it"

 

[Karxrida]

Wonder if it was because they decided Multiscale was already a very good Ability (that changing it would be a downgrade from a Multiscale Dragonite) or if M-Dragonite was so spoiled of potential choices they decided to stick with the default.

I feel like they were just trying to be safe so there wasn't a repeat of Mega Mence, especially with base Dragonite already being quite good in modern VGC afaik. Multiscale is still a great ability in Doubles but not as impactful as it is in Singles.

 

[CynicalGiant]

Wonder if it was because they decided Multiscale was already a very good Ability (that changing it would be a downgrade from a Multiscale Dragonite) or if M-Dragonite was so spoiled of potential choices they decided to stick with the default.

I feel like they were just trying to be safe so there wasn't a repeat of Mega Mence, especially with base Dragonite already being quite good in modern VGC afaik. Multiscale is still a great ability in Doubles but not as impactful as it is in Singles.

I think even with the stat nerf to attack, having Dragonize or Aerilate would make Extreme Speed too ridiculous and they didn't want to bother with balancing that

most popular fan idea beyond that kind of ability was something like Sheer Force, which would be another Mega Salamence situation

also yeah, multiscale is good, kind of unfortunate that you can't really combo inner focus in regular form into mega because taking any damage would make your mega ability not work, but oh well. they probably don't want you waiting to mega very often anyway.

 

[DrPumpkinz]

Eh, like Fairies and Ghosts are just as mythological as Dragons so doesn't get the point across it makes Normal-type Moves into Dragon-type.

For an actual serious suggestion, honestly I think they just need to change & add in a few more letters: "Drakonicize" (pronounced Dra-kon-ic-size).

FUN FACT: Japanese don't have to deal with this problem as all these Abilities are just "(TYPE) Skin". Normalize = Normal Skin, Aerilate = Sky Skin, Pixilate = Fairy Skin, Refrigerate = Freeze Skin, Galvanize = Electric Skin, and now Dragonize = Dragon Skin.

Even if they don't do Mythologize specifically, the English names of the other Skin abilities (besides Normalize) aren't just the fucking name of the type with a suffix slapped onto it. And all of them, including Normalize, are actual words. Dragonize is nothing. Even something basic like Draconify would be better, and also add a new suffix into the mix for future Skins to build on.

Also Fairy already has a Skin, and there are way better options for Ghost, like Terrorize or Eulogize.

 

[CynicalGiant]

And all of them, including Normalize, are actual words. Dragonize is nothing.

I'm sorry to um ackshully you, but Dragonize/Dragonise is an actual word. First usage of it was in 1831. You can thank Thomas Carlyle for that I guess.

 

[grovylestand!]

i wouldve preferred dracolate

 

[Eriorguez]

That sounds something that neo team flare would serve tho.

Mega pseudos were AFAIW intended to be A set they can run, as seen in Mega T-Tar (pretty much tailor made for DD and that's it) and Mega Chomp (Black Kyurem but Ground). Mega Nite not getting Aerilate ESpeed I believe is the right choice for that phylosophy.

 

[Coronis]

Give Garchomp Dragon Dance. Only Garchomp found in Champions that can’t be traded though

 

[Pikachu315111]

I think even with the stat nerf to attack, having Dragonize or Aerilate would make Extreme Speed too ridiculous and they didn't want to bother with balancing that

Well I believe another suggested possibility was Wind Rider since it just had just enough of a niche (getting immunity & an Attack boost from Blizzard & Icy Wind; plus could run Tailwind for double Speed and an Attack boost) that also sort of went with its lore.

Even if they don't do Mythologize specifically, the English names of the other Skin abilities (besides Normalize) aren't just the fucking name of the type with a suffix slapped onto it. And all of them, including Normalize, are actual words. Dragonize is nothing. Even something basic like Draconify would be better, and also add a new suffix into the mix for future Skins to build on.

Also Fairy already has a Skin, and there are way better options for Ghost, like Terrorize or Eulogize.

Unfortunately that's a common issue with the Dragon-type. Like, just look at the Dragon-type Moves. Dragon loves naming things after itself. "Drake" seems to be the other dragon term that's occasionally allowed so that's what I tried to work with, though your suggestion of Draconify was better.

As for a Ghost-type one, I'd go with Phantomize.

 

[Eriorguez]

Yep, the issue I take with lack of IVs beyond trick room deals is that pleasing numbers are gone:

These soothe my brain lol

 

[Sulfurian]

Well I believe another suggested possibility was Wind Rider since it just had just enough of a niche (getting immunity & an Attack boost from Blizzard & Icy Wind; plus could run Tailwind for double Speed and an Attack boost) that also sort of went with its lore.



Unfortunately that's a common issue with the Dragon-type. Like, just look at the Dragon-type Moves. Dragon loves naming things after itself. "Drake" seems to be the other dragon term that's occasionally allowed so that's what I tried to work with, though your suggestion of Draconify was better.

As for a Ghost-type one, I'd go with Phantomize.

Yeah its always been an odd thing, in the movie Dragonite is this super fast delivery Pokemon, then the animated special to reference it, then we got a Mega that has this angel vibe, and really nothing that takes advantage of the wind? It was all just extreme speed? lol

 

[Fivepoint]

i wouldve preferred dracolate

i would've gone with "dragonate," for no reason in particular

me when i mega evolve my feraligatr:

and the ghost type one should be called "spectate" because it'd be funny

 

[Ravaris]

Pp changes + forced item Clause seem like really massive changes for singles. It's really hard to see how influential these will be. That said, I think the biggest winner from both is corv. Effective hazard immunity means that it can get away with running any random item like helmet or some resist berry. Additionally pp changes on moves like ivy cudgel and triple axel let it out stall them with Roost (6 pp on attack vs 8 pp on roost).

I think most sub legendaries will go crazy with the pp nerf as well with pressure.

Forgive my ignorance, Smoogon and Showdown has always been somewhat of a black box to me. But won't we just get a Showdown ladder called something like Champions OU with the 6v6 Smoogon singles rules applied? I mean the Showdown ladder has always ignored item cluse, why would this be any different?

 

[PokemonTrainerLui]

Hello,

In this video of the demo at pax, mega evolution happened after switching... around the 6:15 mark

 

[Esserise]

Even if they don't do Mythologize specifically, the English names of the other Skin abilities (besides Normalize) aren't just the fucking name of the type with a suffix slapped onto it. And all of them, including Normalize, are actual words.

Is “aerilate” an actual word? Aerate is, and it’s always bugged me that that’s not what the Ability is called, but “aerilate” gets no hits on any of the dictionaries I can find.

(While we’re on the subject, a nitpick: why the hell did Electric Skin get the name of “Galvanize” instead of “Ionize”? “Galvanize” strikes me as a name that would be much more appropriate for a Steel-type Skin.)

Dragonize is nothing. Even something basic like Draconify would be better, and also add a new suffix into the mix for future Skins to build on.

Isn’t “draconify” technically, structurally just as plain as “dragonize”? Though I guess it could be a fun cross-company TOTK reference.

 

[deluge]

Hello,

In this video of the demo at pax, mega evolution happened after switching... around the 6:15 mark

Yeah ... seems like switching could really be in the same priority bracket as mega-evolving now.
Greninja, being fast, mega-evolved before the opponent switched out while Scizor didn't.

(I'm not 100% sure which speed would count, that of the switched out Pokemon or the one switched in.)
(In this case, Trevenant switched out for Gyarados before Scizor mega-evolved.)

 

[CodeFour]

Forgive my ignorance, Smoogon and Showdown has always been somewhat of a black box to me. But won't we just get a Showdown ladder called something like Champions OU with the 6v6 Smoogon singles rules applied? I mean the Showdown ladder has always ignored item cluse, why would this be any different?

Likely yes unless 6v6 singles is not even in champions at which point SVOU remains relevant. There may be a petmod or something made for champions 6v6 if it's not available. And BSS + VGC will get a ladder with the Nintendo rules. But a champions 6v6 if not real will unlikely become a meta on here that gets much attention idk.

Which is a huge bummer if that's the case. But if private battles allow 6v6 everyone's focus will go to it and if it's possible in the private battle to not enforce item clause then smogon prob wouldn't either

 

[OnionJam]

claw moves are now considered cutting type moves

there is no pokemon with dragon claw and sharpness

a certain mega evolution has a big fucking sword in its back

 

[leafsaber47]

claw moves are now considered cutting type moves

there is no pokemon with dragon claw and sharpness

a certain mega evolution has a big fucking sword in its back

as if regular ass bax wasn't f'ing cracked enough

 

[R_N]

Likely yes unless 6v6 singles is not even in champions at which point SVOU remains relevant. There may be a petmod or something made for champions 6v6 if it's not available. And BSS + VGC will get a ladder with the Nintendo rules. But a champions 6v6 if not real will unlikely become a meta on here that gets much attention idk.

Which is a huge bummer if that's the case. But if private battles allow 6v6 everyone's focus will go to it and if it's possible in the private battle to not enforce item clause then smogon prob wouldn't either

Considering how goofy Champions is going to be with availability I can see Smogon, if they want to support the changes in this format for something mroe than just a dinky side mod, just picking & choosing what to care about.

"National Dex standard 6v6 no clauses etc etc but it's based on Champions mechanic changes and movepools where applicable"

 

[Talpr0ne]

Forgive my ignorance, Smoogon and Showdown has always been somewhat of a black box to me. But won't we just get a Showdown ladder called something like Champions OU with the 6v6 Smoogon singles rules applied? I mean the Showdown ladder has always ignored item cluse, why would this be any different?

Smogon OU has always been based on what you can do in a unrestricted Link Battle on cart, if you play with Smogon rules on cart all clauses and bans are enforced by a honor system.
For Champions it all depends on whatever you are allowed to do in Private Battles, in the worst case scenario you might still be forced on 4v4 Doubles with item clause. But if it allows the usual amount of freedom of Link Battles then there's no issue with using it as the basis for OU, and it might perhaps have a more user friendly UI for picking custom rules. The absolute best case scenario would be if Sleep Clause (which originally appeared in Stadium) somehow returns, while the goofiest one would be if even in private battles you have to choose only one generational gimmick (just stick with Megas forever in this case tbh).

 

[OnionJam]

supposed champions dex

 

[R_N]

View attachment 819189View attachment 819190
supposed champions dex

Or at least the ones known so far based on demos and footage.

Though I do suspect the mega availability might be them assuming things just based on the base form being present. We already know Dragonite has to wait for the battle pass and I assume Emboar is also premium battle pass-exclusive until that one ends, so who knows when the others will be made available.